Picture Books To Boost Social and Emotional Learning Skills
by Trudy Ludwig
I love librarian and author Molly Pearson’s description of picture books as “big ideas in small packages.” Stories are wonderful tools for homes and classrooms to strengthen children’s social and emotional learning (SEL) abilities (i.e., empathy, self-awareness, emotion regulation, problem-solving, and relationship skills).
Why is there such a strong need for these kinds of resources? Research studies show that SEL positively impacts academic performance, supportive relationships, mental wellness, and more. Feel free to use this list as your starting point for picture books that promote SEL skills in your young readers.
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The Rabbit Listened
Available from:This sweet story shows the importance of being a caring listener when someone feels sad or hurt. Rabbit may not solve little Taylor’s problems, but the bunny helps Taylor get through their hurt by being a comforting, compassionate listener.
(Ages 3 - 5)Also available from: -
The Circles All Around Us
Available from:This heartwarming story relays the importance of widening your circle of relationships. Connecting with one another in healthy ways is an essential component of social-emotional learning.
(Ages 3 - 5)Also available from: -
Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a Horse
Available from:This story reminds me of Eleanor Estes’s classic, The Hundred Dresses. Adrian lets his classmates know he has a horse, but Chloe knows it’s not true. Should she call him out on this? Or should she let it go? Young readers will learn that compassion and understanding are more important than judgment.
(Ages 3 - 5)Also available from: -
Danbi Leads the School Parade
Available from:Readers will become smitten with the adorable protagonist Danbi. As a Korean immigrant living in America, Danbi uses her spunk and imagination to adjust to a new school and make new friends. Danbi learns that when you open your world to others, their world opens to you!
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
In Our Garden
Available from:In this beautiful tale of a girl settling into a new city, Millie misses her family’s garden back home. With the help of her school community and neighbors, Millie’s garden proposal takes root and blossoms. In Our Garden shows what we can accomplish with vision, patience, hard work, and collaboration.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
Hey, Little Ant
Available from:A small ant tries to convince a boy not to squish him because he has feelings and a family. The story ends with the reader deciding the fate of the ant: “We’ll leave the kid with the raised-up shoe. What do you think that kid should do?” It’s an excellent opportunity for generating thoughtful discussions about empathy with children!
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
Where Oliver Fits
Available from:It can be puzzling for little ones to figure out who their true friends are. Where Oliver Fits shows young readers that fitting in isn’t always the best fit; it’s more important to find friends who accept and appreciate the real you.
(Ages 3 - 7)Also available from: -
Not Enough Lollipops
Available from:When kind-hearted Alice wins a wagon full of lollipops, sharing them with her classmates becomes more complicated than she expected. This is a playful story about Alice’s moral dilemma and problem-solving strategy. For older kids, Not Enough Lollipops works as an introduction to the scarcity mindset.
(Ages 4 - 7)Also available from: -
Big Feelings
Available from:The creators behind the New York Times bestseller All Are Welcome collaborated on another fantastic picture book, Big Feelings. This story helps young readers navigate and manage the emotional challenges they face in their daily lives.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
A Walk in the Words
Available from:This powerful story will inspire young children who find reading difficult. It beautifully illustrates both the challenges and rewards of being a non-mainstream learner.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
Milo Imagines the World
Available from:A little boy named Milo studies the people around him, imagining what their lives are like. But what if everyone's life is different than he thinks? Milo learns that you really can't know people just by looking at them.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
Just Ask!
Available from:Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor writes about children with differences and challenges who work together to build a community garden. The reader learns that those children’s differences can also make them interesting and powerful in unique ways. Sotomayor’s story encourages children to Just Ask when they encounter someone who is different from them, but they’re not sure why.
(Ages 4 - 8)Also available from: -
The Year We Learned to Fly
Available from:This gorgeous picture book is the companion to The Day You Begin by Woodson and López. The Year We Learned to Fly lyrically shares the beauty and power of our minds to lift ourselves up in tough times and imagine a better world.
(Ages 5 - 8)Also available from: -
Come With Me
Available from:One of the best things we can do for our children is to help them become emotionally resilient in difficult times. Come With Me shows how even little ones can have a positive impact in the face of intolerance and uncertainty.
(Ages 5 - 8)Also available from:
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Books by the Author:
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Brave Every Day
Also available from: Calling the Wind
Also available from: The Power of One
Also available from: Quiet Please, Owen McPhee!
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My Secret Bully
Also available from: The Invisible Boy
Also available from: Confessions of a Former Bully
Also available from: Better Than You
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Trouble Talk
Also available from: Just Kidding
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